Motor-operated switch.



H. W. CHENEY. MOTOR OPERATED SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1909.

1,028,993, Patented June 11, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHBET1.

-mu)W H. W. CHENEY. MOTOR OPERATED SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1909.

Patented June 11, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

X/OWW/b i x a w H. W. CHENEY. MOTOR OPERATED SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. 1909.

Patented June. 11, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

" UNITEQ STATES. PAENT op nion.

HERBERT W. CH NEY, 0E MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR 'ro ALLIs-GHALMERS coMrAnY, A oonronarron OF NEW JERSEY.

MOTOR-OPERATED SWITCH.

Patented June fl, 1912.

Application filed. April 3, 1309. Serial 110.487,?29'.

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, HERBERT W. CHENEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at 7 Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor- Operated-Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact Specification.

This invention relates to. switches, and particularly to switches of the motor'operated remote controlled type.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a switch of high capacity and having an operating mechanism which will open or close the switch in an effective mancontrolling an operating means which will cause the switch to be opened and closed with exceedingly quick'movements, and in a manner such that arcing-isreduced to a mmnnum. I

Afst-ill further object is the'provision of motor operated remote controlled switch which in more simple in construction and more effective in operation than those which have been constructed heretofore.

I11 carrying out my invention, I employ a rotary switch, preferably of the doublebreak type, and having a," shaft or drum which carries one or more" movable switch members and which is designed to be shifted or rotated in the same direction for both the opening and closing movements. switch operating mechanism includes an electric mot-or, preferably of the rotary type,

which is connected to the shaft of the switch by means of a spring, such as a coil spring,

in which energy is adapted to be stored by the motor so that the spring may, when intermittently released, cause the shaft or drum of the switch to be rotated step by step in the same direction to swing the movable contact member or members into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts or to close and open the switch. The

I movement of the shaft is preferably controlled by means of an electrically operated escapement which permits the shaft to be rotated by the tension of the spring, a sufficient distance to open or close the switch,

and then after a certain angular movement of the shaft the escapement stops the latter. The spring is preferably wound by the motor The after each movement of the switch shaft so that the spring is maintained under nearly constant'tension which is at all times sulficient-to quickly turn the switch shaft when 'the'movement ispermit-ted by the escapement the circuit of the motor being controlled byfa pair of switches, one mounted on the switch boardand the other having a pended claims; ner and with absolute safety to the operator. A further object is for the provision of' In.the accompanying sheets of drawings, F lgure 1 1s a side elevation of a switch constructed in accordance with my invention,

parts being broken away for the sake of clearness; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, parts being broken away; Fig. 3 is a transverse'section taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1 and showing the switch closed or the stationary and movable contact members in engagement; Fig. 4 is atop plan view of a portion of the operating mechanism of the switch, parts being broken away and showing particularly the relative positions of certain notches in the escapement disk when the switch is open. Fig. 5 is a partial transverse section taken through the structure of the switch proper, the switch being here shown open; and Fig. 6- is a diagrammatic view showing conventionally the switch andthe different controlling and operating devices which are employed in connection therewith.

Referring now to the figures of the drawings, 10 represents the frame or casting 1ncludlng a lower horizontal portion 11 which 1 supports the mechanism of the switch proper, and an upper terminal casing 12,

which supports the major portion of the operating mechanism for the switch. This frame, which is rectangular in'shape, is supported by a plurality of vertical columns 13, the frame having at the corners slotted or bifurcated portions which receive the columns and which are clamped between nuts 14 at the upper ends of the bolts.

Before taking up the switch controlllng and operating mechanism, I shall first describe th preferred construction of the switch itself, which in this case is a rotary,

.three pole, oil break switch. Extending:

downward through the horizontal portion 11 of the upper frame or casting. are a num ber ofvertical bolts 15, (in this case four in number,)- and supported by these bolts the different poles of the switch and also divide the oil tank, to be referred to later, into compartments The movable contact members of the switch are mounted upon a rotary vertical shaft, drum or spindle 20, which is preferably formed of insulating material such as wood, and which extends cent-rally through the casting and through the different insulating slabs.

Passing vertically through the horizontal portion 11 of the casting, and extending different distances below the latter,- are a number of pairs of contact rods, whichcarrythe' stationary contacts, these rods be- Two of these rods, 21 and, 22, located dia in any suitable mannerin a pair of insulat 1ng bushings 23 and 24, mounted in the upper insulating slab 16. These two rods 7 ing arranged ina circle; about the axis of the vertical switch shaft or drum and bemg spaced angularly equal distances apart.

metrically opposite each other, are secured have at their lower ends,- which are located in the compartment orspace betweenthe slabs l6 and '17, a plurality ofiriwardlyeX- tending contact fingers 25 and 26, which 'c'onstitute the stationary contacts for-one. pole compartment between the slabs 17. and 18,

of the switch and are adapted to be bridged by a movable bridging contact member 27 which is clamped to the shaft or drum 2O in a position such that the outer ends of this; contact member 27 may be engaged by the Another pair of.-

free ends of the fingers. diametrically opposite" rods 28 and 29 are secured in insulating bushings 30 y and 31, carried by the insulating slab 17 and. have at their lower ends, which are located in the springcontact fingers 30 and .31 shownin Figs. land 3, and these fingers, which constitute the'stationa-ry contacts for the secondi pole of the switch, are adapted to be bridged by a movable bridging contact 33 which isclamped to the shaft or drum 2O intermediate the slabs 17 and 18 in a manner such that it is displaced angularly 60 from theibridging contact member 27 The otherftwocontact rods 34 and- 35 are secured in a pair of bushings 36 and 37, which are carried by the lower slab 18, andthe lower ends of these contact rods, which extend a short distance below the slab 18,-are provided respectively I with spring'contact fingers 38 and 39 which constitute the stationary contacts for the third pole and which are adapted to be bridged by a movable bridging contact member 40 which issecuredto the lower end of the drum 20 in a position such that when thelatter is rotated, the ends of the contact a member'4O will be engaged by the free ends ofthe contact fingers. This bridging con-' tact member 40 is spaced angularly fro m each of the contact members 27 and 33. i

- The six contact'rods' all extend upwardthrough the horizontal portion -11,of the casting into the terminal casing 12, and to the upper ends of thesecoiitact-rods are con-- nected' terminal rods 41 which'extend' out-. I

wardly beyond the terminal casing, and have v l connected to their free ends the main terminalcon-ductors 42. ,Each contact rod and each terminal rod is su'rroundedby a tube of insulation 41*. H

The contactmechanism of the switch is inclosed by anjoil tank 130, the uppercportion of which engages the lower side of the horizontal portion 11 of the frame or cast= v ing, intermediate thebolts.13and the bolts 15' which support the insulating'slabs and contact mechanism.

Suitable mechanism provided for sup:

porting'this tank and for raising and loweringthe same-so that the contacts can be inspected, and this mechanism is as follows:

Onv opposite sides of. the frame or casting are two vertical threaded shafts 43 and 44,

the; upper ends of both of which are shown i i FigJ2'and a'portion of't he shaft 44-bef ing shown also in Fig. 1; These two. shafts are mounted for rotary-movement and" are engaged respectively by threaded--lugs or sides of thetank, so that the latter will be raised orilowered as the shafts 43 and 44 are rotated. Mounted in suitable bearings 45 ,on the side of the terminal casing 12 is a horizontal shaft 46 which is provided at oneend with a hand wheel 47' and at its opposite end with a'bevel gear. 48 which meshes with a bevel gear 49 at the upper endof the i I v .vertical' shaft 44. The shaft 46' is also pro- 1.0.5 nuts 42? which extend outwardly from the vided with abevel gear 50which engages a bevel gear 51 mounted upon a horizontal shaft52 which extends through theterminal casing 12 to the opposite side thereof, and;- 'is provided at its opposite-end with a bevel gear 53 which engages a' evel' gear 54 se- Y cured to a shaft'55 mounted in bearings 56 on the side of the terminal casing 'and'having at its end a bevel gear 57 which engages; I

a bevel gear 58 on the upper end .ofvertical shaft 43. Thus it will beseen that when' v the hand wheel 47, is turned-inone direction or the other, the'two shafts 43 and will be rotated, causing the nuts 42 to travel downward or upward along the shafts and secured atits lower end to the upper end of the shaft or drum 20 of the switch, said shaft or drum 20 extending upwardly through the terminal casing12, and having its upper end secured to the lower end of the shaft 62 by means of a mortise or tenon and slot connection and by transverse clamping bolts 63. Mounted upon the frame 60 is a small series rotary motor 04 having on the end of its shaft a pinion 65 which meshes with a gear 66 secured to a shaft 67 which is mounted in suit-able bearings 68 carried by the frame 00. This shaft 67 is provided intermediate the bearings 08 with a thread constituting a worm and this worm engages a worm wheel 70 which surrounds but is loose upon the shaft 02. The shaft 62 is not driven directly by the motor but is driven by a coil spring 71 which is adapted to be wound or in which energy is stored by the motor, the sprlng having its inner end secured to the shaft 62 and its outer end,

ment of the following construct-ion: Secured to the shaft 62 is an escapement disk I2, having four notches 73, 74, 75, and 7 6 which are arranged alternately on opposite sides of the disk and are adapted to be engaged by thejaws 77 and 7 8 of a pivoted escapement lever 9. These notches are not spaced 90 apart, but, as shown particularly 111 Figs. 1, 2, hand (3, the distance between the notches 75 and '76 and between the notches 7a and 'itis, greater than the distances between the notches Tet and 75 and between the notches 73 and 76, although the notches 73' and 75 and thenotches 74 and 70 are 180 apart. As will be apparent, the distance between, or the angular spacing of, these .notches determines the extent of angular movement given to the switch drum when the latter is released by the escapement. It may be here stated that the notches are arranged as shown and describedabove in order that the movable contact members of the switchwill be swung through arcs greater than half the angular'distance between the corresponding stationary contacts of the different poles, when the switch is opened,

or in order that the movement of the switch drum and contacts will be greater when the switch is being opened than when it is being closed. The notches each have one side whichis at right angles to the surface of the disk or to the bottom of the notch, and

or when the bridging contacts are in engagenient with the stationary contacts, and the notches Yet and 76 are adapted to be engaged by the lower jaw 78 of the escape- 'ment lever to stop the drum after the switch has been opened.

The escapement lever 7 9 is shifted by two solenoids or'two solenoid coils 80 and 81 which have a single armature 82 adapted to be drawn upward by coil 80 or downward by coil 81, andwhich is pivotally connected to the rear end of the escapement lever. Either coil 80 or coil 81 is adapted to have itsicircuit completed across the mains of the low volt-age circuit, to be referred to pres ently, by means ofa pair of switches'83 and 84, the former having a drum 85 which is secured to the worm wheel 'and the latter being mounted upon a switchboard atsome distance from the oil switch or main switch. By referring to Figs. 1 and 6, it is seen that the switch drum 85 of the switch 83 has two contact surfaces 86 and 87 whichare adapted to be engaged by two sets or pairs of contact fingers 88 and 89, the fingers of each pair being insulated from each other.

Reference will now be had to the diarammatical view of Fig. 0. In this figure he conductors of the main circuit or of the high/voltage circuit which in this case is a .three phase circuit are designated respectively 90, 91, andv92, and in this circuit is a three pole switch, the construction of, which has been described and-which in its-entirety will be designated A. The conductors of the low an overload solenoid coil 103-and' thence to conductor 94 of theoperating circuit, and contact 96 of the overload relay is connected by" conductor 104 to conductor 93 of the operating circuit. The solenoid coil 103 00- to the blade of a double-throw switch 84,. which was referred to previously, and which operates with a core 105 which is connected is mounted on the switch board. One of the {stationary contacts 106 of the switchj84is' connected by conductor 107 to one of the contacts of the set or pair 89 of the switch I 83-.andthe other contact 89 of the same pair isconnecte'd to one end of coil 80 of the con trolling solenoid ofthe escapement. An-

other stationary cont-act 109 of the switch to the motor 64 by conductor 112'and this- 84 is connected by a conductor 110 to one of the contacts of the .pair 88 of the switch 83, and the other :contactof this pair of contacts is connected .by conductor 111to one end of coil 81 of the escapement controlling solenoid. The opposite ends of these two solenoid coils 80 and 81am connected motor is connected by conductor 1-13 :to conductor 104 which, as stated before, ,isconnected to conductor 93 of the operatingicircuit. As shown clearly in Fig. 6, the 'iconductor 102, which is connected to conductor 94 of the operating circuit -and'to contact 97 r of the-overload relay, is connected by conductor 114 to the middle contact or conduct ing member 'to which the blade of the'switchj- 84 is pivoted, In Fig. 6 the main switch'lA is shown in its closed position and is retained in this position by theuplper jaw 7 7 of the escapement lever'79,'whic I I 7 51in. the upper face of the escapement disk" engages the notch 72.; When the main switchis n ,this 'posi-' tion the: switch 84. on the jswit ch-.board will .bein-on'e of its extremepositionswith the blade in engagement with thefs'tationary 1 contact 106. Also the switch :83, which has its drum 85' secured to the worm wheel, will be in position such that a-conta'ct strip of the drum will bridge the two contact fingers 88, while the two contact fingers'89 willbe Y on one of the non-conducting portions of the i solenoid core-105 tc bring the blade of switch drum so that when=the switch A is closed, and the series motor andother parts are stationary, the circuit through the series motor a and coil-80 and escapement controlling solenoid is interrupted or broken by. the-' nonconducting portion of the dru1n185of the switch 83, and the circuit throughthemotor and coil 81 of the escapement controlling solenoid is broken "at the contact109-ofswitch 84, If, however, the switch 84- is thrown by hand so that the switch blade will engage stationary contact 109, or in ca'se'. the

current in main conductor 90 risesto a pre-. determined amount and the bridging con- .tact 98 of the overloadjrelayis brought into 1 engagement. with the contacts 96 and 97 .of

the relay to complete the circuit through the solenoidcoil 103 of switch 84 and shift the 84 into engagement with the stationary contact 1.09, the circuit is immediately completed across the conductors of the op'erating circuit 9394 through 'coil 8l of the.

escapement controlling solenoid and the series motor. 64. The escapement lever 79 will therefore be at once shifted so that jaw '7'? will-be drawn out of the notch 75 and the jaw 7 8 will be brought against the lower surface of the "disk, whereupon the main switch is rotated by the action of the coil spring throu h an arc somewhat greater than9 0, or until the bridging or movable contact members have the position shown in Fig. 5, relative to the stationary contacts, and when the switch has been shifted the proper distance the lower jaw 7 8 of the escapement lever will engage in the notch contact members carried thereby to be brought to a sudden stop. As soon as switch '84 is thrown,'thewmotor 64 begins to rotate, turning the worjjgig wvheel and again storing up in the springl'energy equal to that expended during t a movement of'the motor and of the worm 76 on the lower side of theescapement disk, causing the switch drum, and the'movablee movement of the switch A when the latter wasbeing opened. Afterwheel su'fiicient in extentjto cause the tenthe tension prior to the; pening of the switch A, the contacts 88 ride oif of the contact strip 87- of the druml85 of the switch 83, breaking the circuit through the motor and coil 81 of the escapement controlling solenoid. The motor immediately comes to a stop but the escapement lever, the ends of which are substantially balanced, remains stationary, holding the escapement disk,

drum of this switch. The escapement lever willthen again be shifted or the jaw 78 will bemov'ed out of the slot 76, and the escapesion in=the 'coil spring-71-l;tc} be the same as ment. disk 72 and the switch drum and.

:SWltCh contacts will be rotated by the action of the coil spring until the main switch A isclosed, when the upper jaw 77. of the escapement lever will drop into notch 73 of the escapement dish bringing the rotating parts to a sudden stop. t will then again windu the spring until the tension of the latter is equal to the ten-.

\ sion before this last movement or until-the contacts'89 ride off of the strlp 8:T -of the" drum or assume the position shown in Flg. 6.

The series motor In order that it may be readily seen and v positiv ely determined from the front of the the switch is open. be automatically accomplished, I'have proswitch board whether the main switch is closed or open, I have provided two lamps 115 and 116, one ofwhich is adapted to be illuminated when the switch is closed and the other adapted to be illuminated when In order that this may the same angular spacing as the notches in the escapement disk. This switch 117 also includes three contact fingers 123, 124, and

125, the former being connected by conductor 126 to one terminal'of lampllG, the second being connected by conductor 127 to conductor 1O4C and thence to conductor 93 of the operating circuit, and the last named contact finger 12;") being connected by conductor 128 to one terminal of lamp 115. The other two terminals of lamps 115 and 116 are connected by conductor 129 to conductor 102 and thence to conductor 94 of the operating circuit. The contact strips and contact fingers of this switch 117 are so arranged that when the main switch is closed the contact fingers 124 and 125 will be bridged either by contact strip 119 or by strip 121 so that the circuit will be completed through lamp 115 only, but when the main switch is open the contacting fingers 123 and 124 will be bridged either by strip 120 or strip 122 so that the circuit through lamp 116 will be completed and this lamp will glow.

The switch which I have described above .canebe used effectively in circuits of high of the double-break type; thus the arcs are very quickly stretched and extinguished before they can do material damage to the cont acts.

I do not desire to be confined to the exact details shown, but aim in my claims to cover all modifications which do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope of my invention. What I claim as new is:

1. In combination, a switch comprising stationary and movable contacts, a spring tending to operate the movable contact of the switch to'open andclosed positions when it' is inclosed and open positions respectively, releasable .means for holding the movable contactagainst such tendency in each position, and means independent of the pull of the spring and o erative upon each movement of the movab e contact for immediately restoring in the spring an amount of energy substantially equivalent tothat expended in producing such movempnt.

2. In combination, a switch comprising stationary and movable contacts, a spring tending to move the movable contact of the switch to closed or open position according as it is in open or closed position respec tively, releasable means for holding the movable contact against such tendency in each of said positions, a motor for winding said spring, and means independent of the pull of the spring and operative upon each movement of the movable contact for causing the motor to wind the'spring substantially as far as it unwound in producing such movement;

3. In combination, a switch comprising stationary and movable contacts, a rotary shaft for operating the movable contact both to open and close the switch by movements of the shaft in the same direction, a spring tend-ing to move said shaft in that direction, releasable means for stopping the movement of the shaft when the switch is in open and closed positions, the point of stopping for open posit-ion being such that the opening movement is greater than the closing movement, and means for rewinding the spring.

4:. In combination, a switch comprising stationary and movable contacts, a shaft for moving the movable contact both to open and closed positions by movements of said movable contact in the same direction, a spring tending to move the shaft in that direction, a motor for winding the spring, means for stopping the movement of the shaft when theswitch is in either open or closed position, and controlling means for both causing the release of said stopping means" to permit the shaft to move the switch to the other position and the energization of the motor to produce a rewinding of the spring substantially as far as 1t unwound in producing such movement of the switch.

5. In combination, a switch having cooperating stationary and movable contacts, a rotary drum or shaft carrying the movable contact, an operating motor, a co1l spring having one end connected to the, shaft and forming the driving CODIXGCtlOII, between the latter and the motor, means for controlling said spring so that the latterwill shift the drum or shaft inter mltt-ently to open and close the switch, said means comprising an escapement disk mounted on the shaft and provided with aplurality of notches and an escapement lever adapted to engage said notches, and electrically operated means for shifting said lever.

tacts, a rotary shaft having a bridging contact member adapted to engage the station? aryfcontacts, an operating motor mounted above the switch, a coil springhaving pne end connected to the shaft and having its opposite end connected to the motor, where-- by the energy of the motor may be stored in said spring, means for controlling said spring so that the latter will rotate said shaft intermittently in the same direct-ion to open or close the switch,rsaid means comprising a rotary disk having notches on the opposite sides thereof, a pivoted es-I capement lever adapted to 1 engage saidv notches, and means for controlling the movements of said escapement. lever and of the operating motor. n

7. In combination, a frame-or casting, switch mechanism supported on the' lower side thereof, said mechanism comprising a pair of stationary contacts, a'rotary shaft which extends upwardly above the frame or casting and is provided with a -movable? bridging contact adapted-to engage the sta: tionary contacts, a motor mounted on the top of said frame or casting, a"c0il spring surrounding the shaft of the switch and forming a driving connection between themotor and said shaft, said motor being adaptedto store its energy in said spring, and means for controlling said spring so that the latter may intermittently rotate the shaft in the same direction so as to open and close the switch, said, means comprising an-escapement disk mounted on the shaft and having notches in opposite sides, an

escapement lever having jaws adapted to engage said notches, means comprising apair of magnet coils for shifting said lever, circuits for said coils and for the motor, and switches'for controlling said circuits.

'8. In combinatiom'a rotary switch having cooperating stationary and movable contacts, a rotary shaft carrying the movable contact, an operating motor, a spring forming a driving cOnneCtionbetWeen the motor and the shaft and adapted to have energy stored therein-by the motor, means for permitting the spring to rotatetheshaft a predetermined amount to open 'or close the switch, said means comprising an escapement device inclu'ding a" pair of cooperating members, one secured to the shaft, means for operating said escapement comprising a pair of magnet coils, and means for completing the. circuit through bne of said coils and through the motor comprising suitable supply conductors and-a pair of switches, one of said switches when operated serving to complete thecircuit through one of said coils and through the motor and the other serving to interrupt said circuit aftera predetermined move-- ment of the motor. 1

I 9. In combination, a switch comprising stationary and movable contacts, a rotary the shaft in one direction, means for controlling said spring so that the latter will rotate the shaft a predetermined amount to either. open or close the switch, and means independent of the pull of the spring for shaft carrying the movable contact, an opercausing the motor to rewind the spring after'each movement of the switch.

10. In combination, a'switch comprising stationary and movable contacts, a rotaryshaft carrying the movable contact, an

ing connection between the latter and the shaft, means for controllingsaid spring so as to-per'fnit the latter'te turn the shaft'a predetermined amount to either open or close the switch, and means independent of the pull of thelspringfor completing the will wind up thespring after each movement of the switch.

.circuit through the motor so that the latter 11. In combination, ,a switch comprising i stationary and movable contacts, a shaft ,for operating the movable-contactboth-to open and closed positions by movements in the same direction, a spring tending .to move said shaft in that direction, an escapement for stopping the shaft when the switch is ineither closed or. open position, v electromagnetically operated meansfo'r controlling the escapement, power-operated means for 'rewinding the spring, and means for simultaneously energizing said electro-magnetically o'perated means to release the escapement to. permit a movement of the switch to its other position and for energizing said power-operated means to rewind the spring substantially as faras'it unwound in'producing such movement of the switch. L r

'12. In, combination, a mainswitch comprisingstationary. and movable contacts, a rotary shaft carrying the movable contact, an operating motor, a spring adapted to be wound by said motor and forming a driving connection between the latter and the shaft, an escapement for holding the springunder tension and'for permitting the springto turn the shaft a predetermined amount'j oapement comprising a rotary member to open or close the switch, said escarried by the shaft and" an escapement lever, a pair of coils forshifting said escapement lever, and means for'controlling the supply of current to Sa1d C0l1S and to the motor, ,said means comprising suitable sup ply conductors and a pair of operating switches, one of said switches being located at a distance from the main switch and'serving when shifted to complete the circuit 0 operating 'motorfa spring adapted to be wound by said motor and forming a drivthrough one of said coils and the motor, and

ytrmined amount andhas stored in said spring energy substantially equal to that expended when the spring opened or closed the switch.

13. In combination, a main switch comprising stationary and movable contacts, a rotary shaft carrying the movable contact, an operating motor, a spring adapted to be wound by said motor and serving to turn said shaft in the same direction to close or open the switch, an escapement device for controlling said spring, a pair of coils for operating said escapement device, and means for causing said escapement device to permit the spring to rotate said shaft a predetermined amount and for causing'said motor to rewind said spring, saidmeans comprising suitable sup-ply conductors and a pair of switches, one located at a distance'from said main switch and serving when operated .to complete the circuit through one of said coils and through said motor, and the other being operated by the movement of the motor and serving to interrupt said circuit after said motor has moved a predetermined amount.

14-. In combination, a switch comprising stationary and movable contacts, a rotary shaft or drum carrying the movable contact, an operating motor, a spring adapted to be wound by said motor and forming a driving connection between the latter and the shaft, an escapement device for permitting said spring to turn the shaft intermittently in the same direction to open and close the switch, a pair of magnet coils for controlling said escapement device, and means for causing said escapement device to permit the spring to turn said shaft a predetermined distance and causing said motor to rewind said spring, said means comprising suitable supply conductors and a pair of switches, one of said switches being located at a distance from the main switch and serving when operated to complete the circuit through one of said coils controlling the escapement and said motor, and the other having a drum which is operated by the move merit of the motor and serves tobreak said circuit after the shaft has been shifted a predetermined amount by said spring and after the motor has restored in said spring substantiallyas much. energy as was eX- pended in producing such movement.

15. In combination, a switch comprising stationary and movable contacts, a rotary shaft or drum carrying the movable contact, an operating motor, a spring adapted to be wound by said motor and forming a driving connection between the latter and trolling means comprising an electrically operated escapement including an escape ment disk mounted on the shaft and the escapement lever, said disk having notches adapted to be engaged by said, lever, the annular spacing of such notches being such that the movement of the shaft when the switch is being opened is greater than when the switch is being closed.

16. In combination, a double break rotary switch,-comprising a pair of stationary contacts and a movable bridging contact, a shaft carryin said bridging contact and adapted to be rotated intermittently in ,the same direction to open and close the switch, an operating motor for said switch, a spring adapted to be wound by said motor and to operate said shaft, and an escapement for said spring comprising a notched disk and an escapement lever adapted to engage said notches, the annular spacing between certain of such notches being greater than between certain other notches in order that the movement of the shaft when the switch is being opened will be greater than the movement of the shaft when the switch is being closed.

17. In combination, a switch comprising stationary and movable contacts, a shaft carrying the movable contact and rotatable in the same direction both to open and close the switch, a spring tending to move the shaft in that direction, an escapement for stopping the shaft at open and closed positions of the switch, the open position being such that the opening movement is greater than the closing movement, two ele'ctromagnets for releasing said escapement to allow the movement of the shaft to open, and close the switch respectively, a motor for, rewinding the spring, and means for ener. gizing said motor and that one only of the electromagnets which will release the escapement, and for deenergizing said motor and magnet when the motor has rewound the spring substantially as far as it unwound in producing a movement of the shaft and switch resultant upon such release of the escapement.

18. In'combination, a switch comprising stationary and movable contacts, a shaft carrying'the movable contact and rotatable in the same direction bothto open and close the switch, a spring tending to move the shaft in that direction, an escapement for stopping the shaft at open and closed positions of the switch, two electromagnets for releasing said escapement to allow movement of the switch to open and close the switch respectively, a motor for rewinding the spring, said motor being connected in E series with both of said magnets and thetwh magnetsbeing in bra-nch'circuits in shunt to each other, and means for completing the circuit of the motor and of that magnet only which will release the escapement, 1

19. In combinatioma switch comprising fixed. and movable members, a spring tendv Zing to move the movable member both to open and closed positions by movements in the same vdirection, an escapement for controlling the movement of the movable mem= her of the switch, electrically-operated "means controlling the escapement, a motor for winding the "spring, and means for con- ;trolling said electrically-operated means to "release the escapement to permit a move-' ment. of the switch to the other position than that it happens to occupy and for causing the energization of the motor to cause the immediate rewinding of the spring 20; In combination, a" switch comprising fixed and. movable members, a, spring tendingto move the, movablelmember of the switch in thesame direction to open and closed positions, anescapement for stopping the switch in either closed or open .POSltlOn,

spring, said magnets being inbranch circuits'in shunt to each other and in series jvith the motor, and means for completing the circuit of themotor through that mag- :net only which when energized will release .the switch.

21'. In combination, a switch comprising fixed and movable members, a spring tending to move the movable member of the switch in the same direction to open and closed positions, an escapement for stopping the switch in either closed or open position, two magnets for releasing said escapement when-the switch is in open and closed positions respectively, a motor for winding the spring, said magnets being in branch cirsuitsin shunt to each-other and in series with the motor, and means for completing the circuitof the motor through that magnet only which when energized will release the switch, and for breaking such circuit when the motor has-rewound the spring.

Milwaukee, Wis., March 30, 1909. In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the'presenceof two witnesses. v I HERBERT W. CHENEY.

Witnesses: k

' H. 0. CASE,

' CHAS. L. BYRON. 

